AgWired

I just heard from IFAJ President Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, who is attending the 2010 IFAJ Congress. He took a minute to give me a quick update about attendance which has been impacted by the Iceland volcano.

I’d say around 120 people made it to the congress, about 40 had to cancel. We’ve heard a ton of stories about people stranded all over the world, and yet also some very heroic stories about people getting on ferries, trains and taking cars 12 to 24 hours just to get here for a few days. It’s actually been exhilarating to see this, a real statement about how people feel about the IFAJ.

I understand how those people felt who did go to extra lengths to get there. I tried having my flight route through or to another location in Europe from which I would have had a long train ride but all cities that Delta/KLM would have had to go through were closed. Oh well.

The photo is another one I took from the Congress Twitpic account.

The Monday tours at the IFAJ Congress are in full swing and the Congress team is actively tweeting them. Here’s a link to their TwitPic photos, like this one, showing up this morning.

The Congress team is really doing a good job helping those of us who couldn’t make it still feel somewhat a part of this year’s event. I’m hoping to get some more information to share today. From the looks of it the ag journalists who could make it are having a great time.

The IFAJ Congress is doing a great job of posting information. It’s great for those of us who couldn’t be there. There are now several video clips online like the one below with a welcome from Congress Chairman, Jef Verhaeren. In his opening remarks Jef asked for a moment of silence for Don Gomery, long time honorary secretary of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain who passed away recently. You can read an obituary about Don on the IFAJ website. I was very saddened to hear this news since Don was one of the friendliest faces of IFAJ that I had come to look forward to seeing each year. He is missed.

Now I’m really feeling sad that I can’t be in Belgium for the 2010 IFAJ Congress. Photos are now available and there is a Congress Blog.

This evening the main congress has started. During the welcome walking dinner and reception some speeches were held. Extended video footage of this evening will be posted tomorrow. For those who can’t wait to get up to date there already a text version of the chief of the cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture of Flanders. You can dowload it right here (pdf)

From the tweets, it looks like IFAJ people are having a good time in Belgium. At least those who could make it. I found out at the Delta ticket counter that my flight was canceled just as I got there. Bummer.

You can follow IFAJ tweets via Twitter search among other Twitter aggregation methods. I’m hoping some of my IFAJ peeps will share some photos and information. I’ll post what I get when I get it.

Did I say I’m not a big fan of volcanoes? Larry Dreiling puts it well, “Hope next year, in Canada, will be easier for everyone…no volcanoes around Guelph, I believe.” That’s from a comment on my Facebook page.